A campaign to replace the aging south building of Chesed Shel Emes on Main Street is now underway and officials are excited by early responses from donors.
Read more: about Chesed Shel Emes Launches Essential $3.18 Million Campaign
“She cared so much,” says Gary of Rae, who passed away in November 2018. “She felt it was important for the community that we treat the deceased with dignity, respect, and with the proper rituals.”
During tahara, volunteers wash the deceased, perform a ritual cleaning, and dress the body in hand-made shrouds. Each step is accompanied by prayers; each step is performed with love, dignity, and respect.
“We are very pleased and very grateful,” says Rena Boroditsky, Executive Director of Chesed Shel Emes. “We are optimistic that we will reach our target in time to start the project in 2020.”
When Rabbi Kliel Rose was maybe 10-years-old, he recalls insisting on riding in the hearse with his father—Rabbi Neal Rose—for the funeral of a dear family friend.
On Ian Corne’s night table there rests a book of Tehillim (Psalms). His bookmark is a photo of him and Howie Goldberg, a childhood friend from Winnipeg who passed away at the age of 26 just over a quarter-century ago.
First cousins in a big and close family, Michael and Marshall Weinstein are both playing key roles in the Chesed Shel Emes “Building on our tradition of lovingkindness” campaign.
As you read this, Zoltán Jakal is guiding planes at the airport in Churchill, Manitoba. He recently moved north after three years in Winnipeg—a time during which he performed about 50 taharas at Chesed Shel Emes.
Erica Dean and partner David Thompson recently toured Chesed Shel Emes as part of an introductory course about Judaism from Congregation Shaarey Zedek. For Dean, an articling lawyer, this was her first exposure to Jewish burial traditions.
When Adam Lavitt passed away in 2013, his loving wife Judith was standing by his side as pieces of broken pottery were placed on his eyes—in accordance with Jewish tradition—and the simple wooden casket was closed.
I used to read some of the eulogies my father wrote before he delivered them. I was struck by the warmth of his words and by his deep desire to bring comfort to mourners.
To help stimulate conversation about death, dying, and Jewish burial practices, Chesed Shel Emes is sponsoring the May 23 screening of “To Dust” as part of the Rady JCC’s Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival.
“Donors have been engaged and interested throughout the campaign,” says Rena Boroditsky, Executive Director of Chesed Shel Emes. “We are seeing gifts of all sizes from donors of all ages from Winnipeg and from outside of the city.”
